A friend once told me, “Motherhood is the hardest job you’ll ever love.” Yes, absolutely the hardest job. And I would not trade it for the world. Yes, my friend was right, I love it, even though it is the hardest job. I love our cherubs beyond expression. 3 John 1:4, the anchor verse for our blog, really expresses the heart of a Christian parent, doesn’t it? Truly, there is no greater joy than to know your child is walking in and with the Lord.
Motherhood keeps me on my knees before the Lord. Totally dependent on Him. Trusting His perfect love to accomplish His purposes for each of us. Daily looking to Him for wisdom, grace, strength, mercy and pure truth. Daily asking for and thanking Him for His forgiveness.
I am sharing this today because, after bringing my children to school this morning, I cried the whole way home. My heart ached as I felt as though I communicated so poorly to one of my children. My mouth didn’t say what my heart and mind meant. I prayed for my child and asked the Lord for His truth and love to cover my jumbled words that I had misspoken. My husband reminded me that our children do see us trying to walk closely with the Lord. They see us seeking Him. They hear us ask for forgiveness when we really blow it (which sometimes seems all too often) with each other and with them. Above all, God is faithful, unchanging and loves perfectly.
In many ways, the awesome privilege and responsibility of motherhood is a precious threshing floor for me where He separates the wheat from the chaff in my heart. The threshing floor is bittersweet. Necessary. Fruitful. Precious. I am so thankful for His faithfulness and that He is my Kinsman-Redeemer.
The joys of motherhood fill my heart to overflowing as well. What a wonder and blessing to watch these cherubs grow and mature. It is delightful to just watch their sweet faces. The depths of a mommy’s love is almost unfathomable. Truly, all we want is for them to walk with Him, abide in His truth, to honor Him, to be healthy spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. By His grace.
This past weekend, we enJOYed some autumnal fun at the pumpkin patch on Sunday after church. On Saturday, Gabrielle and I went to a local meal preparation kitchen and made some meals together. She did a great job measuring, stirring, packaging and labelling. Daddy helped Joshua do some research on Abraham Lincoln for an upcoming Election Day project at school. Joshua and I played a duet on the piano together…he is loving the duet thing! I haven’t posted pictures in a while, so I am including some in this post.
To all of the “God in the Details” contest participants: the winner will be announced on Thursday! All of the “detail testimonies” have been wonderful! Can’t wait to see who wins the chips, “Holiest of All” by Andrew Murray and one of Lysa TerKeurst’s books! If you would still like to enter, please read the previous post!
Thanks for visiting! Remember, the winner of the “God in the Details” Give-Away will be posted on Thursday! You still have time to leave your salty comment! 🙂
Sharon, I find the words coming out of my mouth the most recently are, “Oh sorry…I was wrong…will you forgive me?” It seems like I’ve suddenly hit this stage in ‘mothering’ my teenage son where almost everything I do appears to be wrong. Sometimes he exaggerates the problem, but other times I am actually, really wrong. I think it’s good for our children to know that we’re not ‘perfect’ and that we need forgiveness from others and from God on a daily basis. Plus, I think it’s important for them to see the need to admit an error and take responsibility rather than lying. We all make mistakes.
I LOVED your pictures. What grade of piano is your son in? My 16 year old is working on His A.R.C.T. (it’s the grade after 10 that is associated with our University here in Canada). Making “music, meals and memories” are wonderful!
Blessings,
Joy
What a cute family. I especially enjoy the picture with the M&M pumpkins. God bless!
What beautiful children. Oh, my!!!
Thank you so much for a perfectly timely reminder of how God is constantly transforming us. I’ve had so many discouraging mommy moments lately that it would be easy to let feelings of ineptitude and discouragement seep in. But, I know God uses even our most trying parenting moments to His glory, and you’re absolutely right that, as we seek to always grow as parents, our children see us coming closer to God. I pray that, as my kids see me struggling and striving, they’ll always recognize God’s hand lovingly drawing me closer, and they’ll want the same for themselves.
Thank you. What a blessing you are! Your writing is mesmerizing.
Lisa
I totally understand how you’re feeling! Sometimes I feel that no matter how hard I try to do things, it always comes out wrong. I feel as if I’m on a treadmill and the speed keeps getting faster while I’m trying to catch up to my kids for their growing to slow down a bit. Enjoyed the pictures!
Beautiful photos, and what a beautiful song accompanying!!! We all mess up with out kids sometimes, and they are so forgiving of us. God be with you and your family!
Hi Sharon,
What a wonderful fall day you had. Isn’t this time of year just magical.
Hey…I recognize your “meal prep kitchen.” Maybe I’ll see you there one day soon! Isn’t it the BEST.
You are a great example to your kids…and to us as mothers. Thank God His mercies are new every morning.
Blessings,
Kelli